Device fob medical examination with



Dec. 6, 1949 D. E. BERGGREN 2,490,400

DEVICE FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION WITH THE AID OF X-RA YS Filed May a, 1946I .2 Sheds-sheet 1 DETLOFJEMANl/IL BERGGREV INVENTOR.

ATTGRJWY Dec. 6, 1949 E, B G 2,490,400

DEVICE FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION WITH THEAID OF X-RAYS Filed May :5, 19462 Sheets-Sheet 2 DEILOFMANUZZBERGflREV INVENTOR.

AT T ORNZZK Patented Dec. 6, 1949 DEVICE FOR/MEDICAL EXAMINATIONfWITHTHE AID OFX-RAYS Detlof Emanuel Bergzl'en, Eindhoven, Netherlands,assignor, by .mesne assignments, to .Hart ford National Bank and TrustCompany,..Hartford, Conn., as trustee Application MayB, 1946, Serial No.666,951

In the Netherlands May 13, 1942 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8,1946 Patent expires May 13, 1962 ,2 Claims. (01. 250- .53)

The invention relates to a device for the medical examination with theaid of X rays, wherein the X-ray tube is movable parallel to the planeof the receiver of the rays so that it is possible :to send the beam ofrays in different directions through the body of the patient. Thereceiver of the rays may be a fluorescent screen for direct observationor indirect photographyof the radiograph or a cassette with aphotographic film or a plurality of such films for serial exposure. somecases there is in front of the vfilma .grid against secondary radiation,which grid issdisplaced simultaneously with the film cassette and may bebrought in the correct place behind the body to be photographed.

Wherever hereinafter reference ismade to a screen inthe sense of .areceiver. of rays this :term should be considered to include all theabovementioned. cases.

There is known a device of this type wherein the X-ray tube isrotatableand is coupled with the screen insuch manner that-uponrelativedisplacement of the Xray tube with respect to the screen the central rayalways strikes =upon.;the

screen at the same point.

With the known device this condition is fulfilled both .in the case ofvertical displacement (the device is only suitable for the examinationof standing or 'sitting'patients) and of horizonta displacement of theX-ray tube.

The invention is based on the idea that with lateral displacement of theX-ray tube it is rather the object to choose a determined portion of thepatients body than to obtain an obliquely incident beam. For the latterpurpose it is sufficient when the axis of the beam of rays can swing in.a vertical plane. It is desirable, it is true, that the tubes shouldalso be movable in lateral direction, "but without the beam swinginground. Besides, at the same time the screen must be laterally displaced,and this in the same sense as the tube.

According to the invention, in a device for the medical examination withthe aid of X rays wherein the X-ray tube is movable'parallel to theplane of the screen, the X-ray tube and the screen are movable,-inaddition, simultaneously and in the same sense parallel to and in thetransverse direction of a table board or supporting wall for the patientwhilst for carrying out this movement there is provided a device withthe aid of which the tube and the screen are coupled with one another insuch manner that upon relative displacement of the X-ray tube withrespect "to the screen in the longitudinal direction ofthe table boardor the supporting wall thercentral 5 .cured a handle which permits it torotate.

and the screen are secured to the .table itself and follow the rotarymovement of the table about its shaft.

If desired, ..a rod. actingas a coupling element between the X-ray vtubeand the screen may :be telescopic so that the ends need not be displacedwith respect to the holder of the X-ray tube or .the screen when thedistance between the 'X-ray tube and thescreen changes. 20

In one suitable embodiment of the device according to the invention thecoupling rod is rotatable about its axis whilst there are provided.means of converting. the rotationof this :rod about sitsiaxis into.a-translation of the X-ray tube or .of

the latter andthe screen. To the rod may be se- In this case themovement has to be transferred fromtherod to thescreenand to the .X-raytube.

.It is also possible toconstruct the screen itself in such manner that:it can be handled and be displaced in lateral direction, in which eventthe movement has to be transferred from the movable screen portion tothe coupling rod and from :thezlatter again to the X-ray tube.

To theX-ray tube orthe screen ,or to both of them-..may be secureda-toothed rack which engages a gear wheelmounted on the rod and which,upon r tation of the rod about its axis, is displaced inits longitudinaldirection. :With the screen this is less simple than with the.X-rayrtube since the rod must be able to rotate about ahorizonta-l axislocated in the plane of the screen. In order :to-achieve this, the rackmay be connected to the rodin'such manner that it follows the movementof the rod about an axis in the plane of the screen and it may have aconnection with the screen which can be displaced in accordance withthis movement so that upon rotation of the rod about its own axis therack displaces the screen inthe transverse direction .of the supportingtable or of, the supporting wall, and this in the same. sense as the.Xeray tube.

Different solutions are possible with a rack rigidly secured to .thescreen. Thus, for example, the movement .of the rotating coupling rodmay be transferred to the rack by two gear wheels which are connected toone another by a flexible shaft and of which the one is coupled with therack secured to the screen and the other with the coupling rod rotatingabout its axis. Another solution is that the coupling rod is connectedto the screen by means of a universal joint whose centre is located inthe plane of the screen. In this case a handle may be secured to theuniversal joint, but the device may also be constructed in such mannerthat the movement is transferredfrom the screen via the universal jointto the coupling rod.

The connection between the rod and the screen may also be obtained by acombination of a crank and a driving rod. Unless between the handleportions and which is rotatable about its own axis. To the thickestportion 24 are secured pins 25 whose axis is located in the plane of thescreen I I and passes through the centre thereof. These pins arerotatable in an annular stirrup 25 formed by the frame 21 in which thescreen is provided.

Since the axis of the rod 23, which axis intersects the axis 13 at rightangles, and the central nd the p n rod a universal joint is utilized,

the plane of the crank and the driving rod must pass through the axisabout which the coupling rod swings with respect. to the screen whilstthe cross head must be secured to the screen so as to be rotatable aboutthis axis. Y

The invention will be explained more fully with reference to theaccompanying drawing which represents diagrammatically, by way ofexample, in two projections one embodiment of the invention wherein thetube and the screen are supported by a table which is rotatable about ahorizontal axis, the table board taking up a vertical position.

Fig. 1 is an elevation perpendicular to the table board and Fig. 2 is alateral elevation.

Fig. 3 is a portion of Fig. 2 with the omission of parts located infront of it.

Fig. 4 represents part of the device in a slightly differentconstruction.

The supporting table consists of a frame I, a base 2 and a table board3. The frame i is rotatable in the base 2 about a horizontal axis 4.

The rotation occurs electrically by means of a motor and a toothedsegment enclosed in a casing 5; it may also take place by hand with theaid of a crank. Besides the table board 3 columns 6 and l are secured inthe frame I. column slides a carriage. One of the carriages (8) carriesan X-ray tube 9 and the other (H!) carries a screen ll. When the frametakes up a vertical position the movement of these carriages isfacilitated by means of counterweights (not shown). These counterweightsare movable in the hollow columns 6 and I and may be connected to thecarriages with the aid of chains or steel ropes which run on pulleys. Aslide I2 is movable in the carrier 8 in a direction perpendicular to theplane of the frame I. This slide may also be connected with acounterweight in order to facilitate the movement when the tableoccupies a horizontal or inclined position. The X-ray tube is secured tothe slide l2 so as to be rotatable about an axis l3. The screen II issecured to two rods I4 and I5 which are adapted to slide in bushes l6and ll of the carriage l0 so that it is possible to modify the distancebetween the plane of projection and the table board. The carriages 8 andIll, the slide l2 and the rod l4 may be secured against displacementwith the aid of clamping screws I8.

The X-ray tube 9 is clamped in a holder [9 which terminates in a spindlewhich is rotatable in the supporting arm 2| of the slide l2 and whichcomprises a side piece 22. The axis l3 of the spindle 20 passes throughthe focal spot of the X-ray tube. In the side piece 22 terminates atelescopic rod 23 which consists of three On each ray of the X-ray tubeare located in one plane and since the axis of rotation of the pins 25is parallel to the axis of rotation I3 and passes through the centre ofthe screen H, the central ray strikes upon the centre. If the carriage10 with the screen is raised out of the position shown along the columnI whereas the carriage 8 is held fast, the distance between the focalspot and the centre of the screen decreases and the inclination of therod 23 is modified. The portions of the rod 23 slide into one anotherand the rod rotates in the stirrup 26. The spindle 20 and consequentlyalso the central ray follow the rotary movement of the rod 23.Independently of the place taken up by the carriage it on the column I,the central ray continues to pass through the centre of the screen.

Conversely, the carriage ill may be set tightly and the carriage 8 maybe displaced along the column 6. In this case, too, the condition thatthe central ray should pass through the centre of the screen II isalways fulfilled. It is consequently possible to submit any portion ofthe trunk of a patient standing upon a foot board 28 or, in the case ofa horizontal or inclined position of the supporting. table, lying on thetable board 3 to fluoroscopic examination at any desired angle, theshadow image will always be located approximately in the centre of thescreen H.

The X-ray tube 9 can be displaced not only along the column B and in adirection perpendicular to the table board but also horizontally in thetransverse direction of the table board. To that end the spindle 2D isnot only rotatable but also slidable in the supporting arm 2|. Moreover,the screen I l is movable not only along the column I and in a directionperpendicular to the table board but also horizontally in the transversedirection of the table board. To that end the ray-receiver proper isconstructed as a slide located in the frame 21.

The transverse movement of the X-ray tube 9 and the screen ll may bebrought about with the aid of the rod 23, that is to say by rotating thelatter about its axis. At its end the rod 23 carries a gear wheel 29which engages a toothed rack 30 which is attached to the spindle 20which is horizontally slidable in the arm 2 I. The sidepiece 22 is notrigidly secured to the spindle 20 but to a bush which is slidable alongthe spindle but is not rotatable with respect to the latter, the saidbush being enclosed in a fork formed by the supporting arm 2|. I

When the rod 23 is rotated about its axis, the gear wheel 29 rotates andthe X-ray tube is displaced in the lateral direction, the spindle 2Dsliding through the supporting arm 2| and the bush of the side-piece 22.At that end of the rod 23 which passesv through the stirrup 26 isprovided a handle 3| so that the rod 23 can be utilized as a handle forbringing about the movements of the carriages 8 and I0 along thecolumns. This handle serves at the same time to rotate the rod 23.

The pins 25 arenotsecured directly tothe portion 24 of the rod 23, butthey are secured to a bush 32 in which the rod is rotatable. The portion24 carries a gear wheel 33 whose diameter is equal to thatof the gearwheel 29. It engages a toothed rack 34which cannot be immovably securedto the screen H since otherwise it would leave the gear wheel as soon asthe carriage I is raised or would prevent this carriage from beinglowered. For this reason the rack 34 is mounted so as to be slidable ina bush '35 which is secured to any of the pins 25 or to the bush32itself (see Figs. 1 and 3). Upon rotation of the rod 23 about the pins25 the rack 34 follows this rotary motion and remains in engagement withthe gear wheel 33.

The one end of the rack 34 has a connection with the screen H which canbe displaced in accordance with the movement around the pins 25 so thatupon rotation about the horizontal axis the toothed rack runs clear ofthe screen but upon displacement in its longitudinal direction also setsthe screen in motion. To that end the end of the rack passes through acircular slot 36 in a vertical plate 31 which is secured to the screenII. In order to prevent the rack from sliding through the slot the endis made thinner and the slot is accordingly narrower; in order toprevent it from being drawn out of the slot it is provided on the otherside of the plate with a boss 38.

Instead of a slotted plate it would also be possible to utilize a cranksecured to the screen II and adapted to rotate about an axis whichcoincides with that of the pins 25, said crank gripping around the rack.It is also possible to provide two gear wheels which are connected toone another by means of a flexible shaft and of which the one is coupledwith the toothed rack of the screen and the other is coupled with thegear wheel 33. In the latter case the rack may be rigidly connected tothe screen ll.

Fig. 4 shows the manner in which the coupling rod 23 may be connected tothe screen H by means of a combination of a crank and a driving rod. Acrank 38 which is secured to the portion 24 passes to the outsidethrough a slot 40 in the bush 32 and is connected with a driving rod 4|.The plane of the driving rod 4| and the crank 39 passes through the axis42 of the pins 25. A cross head 43 is secured to the screen H so as tobe rotatable about this axis. When the rod 23 swings around the pins 25,the plane of the crank and the driving rod follows this swinging motion.The cross-head rotates in this case with respect to the screen about theaxis 42 so that the movement of the rod 23 is not hampered. When thehandle Si is turned, the crank 39 swings through the slot 53 and thedriving rod 4| pushes or pulls the screen H in the direction of the axis42.

If the conversion of the rotary motion of the rod 23 about its axis intoa rectilinear motion is effected, in the case of the X-ray tube, withthe aid of a gear wheel and a toothed rack and, in the case of thescreen, with the aid of a crank and a driving rod, the movement of theX-ray tube is only approximately similar to that of the screen, but inthe case of a crank which is not excessively short the approximationwithin the stroke of the screen is sufficient.

A further possibility is that the handle 3| is secured to the frame 21in such manner that it occupies an invariable position with respect tothe screen H and is connected with the rod 23 by means of a universaljoint whose centre is located in the axis 42. In this case the rotary.motioiiof the handle may :be transferred to the screen by means of :agear wheel and a toothed rackwhich is rigidly-secured to the screen orby means of'a simple crank mechanism.

In all these cases the handle may also be secured directly to theslidable portion of the screen so that the movement is transferred fromthe screen via a gear wheel or a crank to the coupling rod 2 3. Theslider may be provided, for example, on the sides, with straps fortaking hold thereof.

What I claim is:

1. X-ray apparatus comprising a screen member, an X-ray tube movable ina plane parallel to said screen, two column members, a tube supportingmember comprising a housing adapted to move along one of said columnsfor moving said tube longitudinally in a plane parallel to said screenand a rotatable spindle supported by said housing adapted to move saidtube transversely in a plane parallel to said screen, a flexibletelescopic shaft member adapted to Vary in length as said X-ray tube ismoved longitudinally in a plane parallel to said screen, means to rotatesaid shaft member corresponding to a transverse movement of said tube, ascreen supporting member comprising a housing adapted to move along theother of said columns for moving said screen longitudinally in a planeparallel to the plane of movement of said tube and a transverse membersupported by said housing adapted to move said screen transversely in aplane parallel to the plane of movement of said tube, means couplingsaid shaft member to said transverse member to produce a correspondingmovement of said screen when said tube is moved transversely relative tosaid shaft, and a pivotal member coupling said shaft member to saidscreen supporting member to permit axial movement of said shaft aboutsaid screen supporting member for positioning said tube so that thecenter of the beam from the tube remains aligned with the center of thescreen as said tube is moved longitudinally relative to said screen.

2. X-ray apparatus comprising a screen member, an X-ray tube movable ina plane parallel to said screen, two column members, a tube supportingmember comprising a housing adapted to move along one of said columnsfor moving said tube longitudinally in a plane parallel to said screenand a rotatable spindle member supported by said housing adapted to movesaid tube transversely in a plane parallel to said screen, a flexibletelescopic shaft member adapted to vary in length as saidX-ray tube ismoved longitudinally in a plane parallel to said screen, means to rotatesaid shaft member, means to couple said shaft member to said spindlemember to move said tube transversely to said shaft member when saidshaft is rotated, a screen supporting member comprising a housingadapted to move along the other of said columns for moving said screenlongitudinally in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of said tubeand a transverse member supported by said housing adapted to move saidscreen transversely in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of saidtube, means coupling said shaft member to said transverse member toproduce a corresponding movement of said screen when said tube is movedtransversely relative to said shaft so that the beam from the tuberemains aligned with the center of said screen, and a pivotal membercoupling said shaft to said screen supporting meme ioq ioo 8 her topermit axial movement of said shaft about UNITED STATES PATENTS saidscreen supporting member for positioning 1 i r .7 i said tube so thatthe center of the beam from the Number Name Date tube remains alignedwith the center of the 2,000,497 Pohl May 7, 1935 screen as said tube ismoved longitudinally rela- 5 Gross a 5, 3 tive to said screen, 2,156,170Augustin et a1 Apr. 25, 1939 2,353,145 Chamberlain, Jr. July 11, 1944DETLOF EMANUEL BERGGREN. FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCES CITED m NumberCountry Date The following'references are of record in the 120,097Austria June 15, 1930 file of this patent: 558,066 France May 16, 1923

